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Spur-of-the-moment purchase of a 2005 Grande V6 - what to check?

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  • Spur-of-the-moment purchase of a 2005 Grande V6 - what to check?

    Hey, first 4wd. Plan on doing quite a bit of off-roading, camping, touring in the next few years.

    Was all lined up to buy an old Nissan Patrol when the deal fell through. Had four days left of the rego on my current car and needed something quick. Ended finding a Prado elsewhere the same day and went with my gut and bought it.

    2005 LC Prado Grande V6. 293,000 kms. Mostly factory, with tow-bar, roof racks, Redarc tow-pro brakes. Has a few little scratches, a good amount of red dust, interior a bit shabby, cracked dash, rear defogger broken, but otherwise the seller said everything mechanically sound.

    So planning to take it off for a service to get it checked out, and fix up anything that needs attention before I take on a big trip. Any advice here, whether specific things I should be looking out for - or recommendations on a good mechanic? In Sydney.

    Cheers
    Last edited by drzel; 17-07-2021, 12:44 AM.

  • #2
    Congrats on the new purchase.
    Others on the site will be better able to give you some good advice, but there are a couple of suggestions I hope may help.

    Do you have a service history? You may not be able to get it, but it will give you an idea if it has been well serviced.
    Take off the oil filler cap and have a look to see if there is much sludge (if there is a a bit of a built up it may be worth asking you mechanic to drop the oil pan and check/clean the oil pickup)
    Check engine compartment wheel guards for cracks.
    Check rear door around the Hinges
    A cracked dash is a problem for 120's around that time. Expensive to fix so suggest you get a dash mat
    Look underneath car for evidence of damage
    Grande comes with sunroof, and rear airbag suspension, both can be a problem with age, so suggest you check their condition.
    Grande will have a-Trac traction control (bonus), which I don't think the lower models didn't have have back then.
    If it has a Toyota genuine Sovereign bull bar, and tow bar check if the voluntary recalls and checks have been done on Toyota database (i.e. stronger bracket replacement for bullbar, check of bolts for towbar).
    If you purchased privately hopefully you got a check done via VIN number to check if any financing is still due on it.

    Cheers, Eddie

    Comment


    • #3
      Hey Eddie, thanks for that!

      Do you have a service history? You may not be able to get it, but it will give you an idea if it has been well serviced.
      Yep, log book in tact, serviced every 15,000 kms or so up to 200,000 kms then only a couple.

      Take off the oil filler cap and have a look to see if there is much sludge (if there is a a bit of a built up it may be worth asking you mechanic to drop the oil pan and check/clean the oil pickup)
      Oil looks like honey.

      Check engine compartment wheel guards for cracks.
      Check rear door around the Hinges
      Good advice, will do tomorrow.

      A cracked dash is a problem for 120's around that time. Expensive to fix so suggest you get a dash mat
      Thanks, thought so, will order one.

      Look underneath car for evidence of damage
      Nothing obvious

      Grande comes with sunroof, and rear airbag suspension, both can be a problem with age, so suggest you check their condition.
      Sunroof seems perfect AFAICT. Rear airbag suspension works, will check their condition.

      Grande will have a-Trac traction control (bonus), which I don't think the lower models didn't have have back then.
      Yep.

      If it has a Toyota genuine Sovereign bull bar, and tow bar check if the voluntary recalls and checks have been done on Toyota database (i.e. stronger bracket replacement for bullbar, check of bolts for towbar). If you purchased privately hopefully you got a check done via VIN number to check if any financing is still due on it.
      No financing due. Toyota app shows two recalls completed for this model, but doesn't say what they were.

      Have booked it in for a service at Peter Warran Toyota Warrick Farm.

      Comment


      • #4
        Sounds great. Toyota will be able to look up on their system what recalls were done.
        Enjoy.

        Comment


        • #5
          I agree with EddieF, drop sump and clean also pull pickup off and clean. New filter and oil.
          Doing this alone should give your engine good oil pressure.

          Comment


          • #6
            Congratulations, I have a 2005 Grande as well. I bought mine at 216,000km & 3yrs later it’s done 272,000km. The only thing that failed on it so far was the alternator 20,000km ago. My main suggestion for you to check is the auto transmission fluid. Toyota never flushes it.... Ever. So if it doesn’t show up in the details of the servicing as a special request by the client, definitely do it as it goes bad by 200,000km (Black & smells burnt). Apart from that the V6 & drivetrain in these are super reliable & problem free. I had my air con system checked as a precautionary thing to do recently for the first time in the car’s history & it was all good. Cost around $70. My friend with a later model Grande had to replace his front wheel bearings at 180,000km which I thought was a little odd. Mine are still good so far. I’ll expect the next thing to go in my car will be the starter motor. Then around 350,000km the front end ball joints & bushes (if my previous 90 series is anything to go by). I hope to keep my Grande after it’s done 500,000km. Will wait & see. I self service & it’s kept in tip top condition. If the sun visors are a bit floppy, that happens over time with wear & tear. Check out how to cheaply diy fix them on YouTubing the American version Lexus GX470 where people have posted videos on their own repair for them.
            Brett1979
            Avid PP Poster!
            Last edited by Brett1979; 04-08-2021, 12:15 PM.
            2005 120 series V6 Grande, 2 inch susp lift (King/EFS combo), 32 inch MT’s, Safari Snorkel, rear diff lock, breathers, Light Force spotlights, UHF, dual batteries.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Ardy74 View Post
              I agree with EddieF, drop sump and clean also pull pickup off and clean. New filter and oil.
              Doing this alone should give your engine good oil pressure.
              Done.

              Originally posted by Ardy74 View Post
              Congratulations
              Cheers.

              Originally posted by Ardy74 View Post
              My main suggestion for you to check is the auto transmission fluid.
              Good tip, it hasn't been checked. I'll look at that.

              Comment

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